Prop



Eu me 23, 1936. F. M. NEEDHAM 2,045,484

PROP 7 Filed Jan. 2a, 1955 EMJVe/e/dham/ INVENTQR ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1936 V g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PROP Francis M. Needham, Pontiac, Mich. Application January 28, 1935, Serial No. 3,862 1 Claim. (01. 248-353) This invention relates to supports and has 7 beyond the end of the bar and doubled on themspecial reference to clothes line props, the -ob-' selves to define mating jaws 8 having their free ject being to provide a prop which may be folded ends disposed within and restrained from excesinto compact form when not in use and which, sive movement by a notch 9 in the extremity of when in use, will be rigid and will firmly engage the bar. It will be readily noted that the upper and hold the line. The annexed drawing illusbends of the grippers present converging surtrates one embodiment of the invention which faces so that they may be engaged with the line consists in certain novel features hereinafter fully to by merely pushing them upward against the set forth and defined. line. It will also be noted that the jaws are 10 In the drawing: formed with recesses H to fit around the line Figure 1 is a perspective view of the prop as it so that the line will be firmly held when engaged appears in use. a but may be released by merely pulling the prop Figure 2 is a similar view showing the prop downward. On one side of the upper section is folded for storage or transportation. secured a clip I2 to engage and hold the return Figure 3 is a side view of the upper end porrun of an endless or looped line. 1 tion of the prop. The lower end of the lower bar is to rest on Figure 4 is a view of the jointed portion of the ground when the prop is in use, and it is the prop, partly in section. equipped with a foot or anchoring plate l3 which Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation of the upper may enter the ground to prevent slipping. end of the prop. From the foregoing description, taken in con- The prop comprises two bars I, 2, of wood or nection with the accompanying drawing, it will other suitable material having the same crossbe seen that I have provided a very simple insectional contour and area whereby, when they expensive prop which will firmly support a clothes are arranged in alinement, their corresponding line when in use and may be folded into very surfaces will be flush. The bars or prop sections compact form when it is not in use.

are joined at their meeting ends by a hinge 3 Having described my invention, what I claim whereby they may be extended in alinement for is: use, as in Figure 1, or may be disposed side by A prop for clothes lines comprising a bar havside, as in Figure 2, so as to occupy a small space ing two converging f Clothes line pp 011 O when the prop is to be stored or shipped. At the the two intervening faces comprising resilient upper end of the section or bar I is rigidly sestrips of metal extending beyond the end of the cured a bracket or clip 4 fitting around three bar and doubled upon them v o d fi e a i sides of the member and extending beyond the jaws having their ends free, there being a notch same to engage around the lower end of the upper in the end of the bar receiving the ends of the jaws section and hold the sections rigidly in alinement. whereby excessive movement of the jaws is pre To maintain the firmness of the joint and avoid vented by contact of the free ends of the jaws accidental breaking or opening thereof, a latch with the walls of the notch, the jaws presenting 5 is pivoted on the upper bar or section in poconverging surfaces whereby they may be ensition to extend over the bracket or clip 4, as gaged with the line by pushing them upward shown in Figures 1 and 4, and thereby prevent against the line, the jaws being provided with the sections swinging out of alinement. recesses to fit around the line so that the line will The upper end of the upper section or bar 2 be firmly held when engaged but may be released has two converging faces, as shown at 6, and by pulling the prop downward. upon the intervening faces I secure line-grippers 1 consisting of resilient strips of metal extending FRANCIS M. NEEDHAM. 

